Bearing system comprising a device for introducing inactive gas into a bearing chamber

Abstract

A bearing system (1) comprising a bearing (5) designated to be positioned about a shaft (3) and a seat (7) positioned about the bearing (5), configured to form an inner sealed chamber (9) between the shaft (3) and the seat (7) and adapted to contain grease (11) in said chamber (9), the bearing system (1) comprising means (13) for introducing an inert gas (15) into the chamber (9) formed by the seat (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to increasing the life of grease or oil used in machine lubrication. More particularly, the present invention relates to reducing oxidation of grease or oil used in bearing systems. Background Art

[0002] A bearing system generally comprises a bearing and a housing positioned around the bearing. The bearing is, for example, designated to be positioned around a shaft.

[0003] The seat is configured to form an internal sealed chamber between the bearing and the seat. It is usually suitable for containing grease or oil in the chamber (chamber) (also called rolling chamber).

[0004] The grease or oil allows lubrication of the bearing and also prevents the intrusion of dust, particles, water etc. into the bearing.

[0005] However, the chamber is usually not completely filled with grease or oil. Some air is also present in the chamber and causes oxidation of the grease or oil. Oxidation affects the properties of the grease or oil, reduces the quality of the grease or oil and ultimately shortens its life.

[0006] Until now, the solution to this oxidation has been to add fresh grease regularly, thereby renewing the performance and maintaining a sufficient quality of grease. However, this solution requires regular tracking of the grease and requires large amounts of grease to meet previous needs.

[0007] As another option, certain types of greases or oils (e.g., fluorine-based greases or oils) are less sensitive to oxidation and can be used in bearing systems. However, these greases are expensive and polluting. They may also face restrictions in the future.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to provide a simple solution to the oxidation of grease in bearing systems. Summary of the invention

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a bearing system comprising a bearing and a seat, wherein the bearing is designated to be positioned around a shaft, and the seat is positioned around the bearing, is constructed to form an internal sealed chamber between the shaft and the seat, and is suitable for containing grease in the chamber, wherein the bearing system includes means for introducing an inert gas into the chamber formed by the seat.

[0010] This bearing system is therefore a simple way of reducing oxidation in the chamber by replacing air with an inert gas that does not oxidize the grease. This solution is not as expensive as refilling grease or high quality and / or special grease in the chamber and allows increasing the life of the grease or oil.

[0011] In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a gas line passing through the seat and configured to introduce the inert gas from outside the seat into the chamber.

[0012] Advantageously, the seat comprises at least two seals positioned between the shaft and the seat so as to delimit the sealed chamber.

[0013] Advantageously, the device comprises an inert gas filter.

[0014] In one embodiment, the inert gas filter comprises a pressurized air inlet, means for filtering inert gas from components of the pressurized air, and a pump for maintaining a constant pressure of inert gas in the chamber.

[0015] In another embodiment, the device comprises a non-reactive gas container.

[0016] Advantageously, the container comprises a battery, a tank configured to store an inert gas and means for injecting the inert gas into the chamber, the means being powered by the battery.

[0017] Advantageously, the inert gas comprises nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide and / or argon and / or helium and / or krypton and / or xenon and / or neon, preferably nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide, more preferably nitrogen.

[0018] Typically, the non-reactive gas is intended to define other gases (such as CO 2 ) having similar chemical properties as the non-reactive gas.

[0019] Advantageously, the grease configured to be contained in the chamber is a mineral grease, preferably a mineral grease containing calcium or lithium.

[0020] Another object of the invention is the use of the bearing system as defined previously, comprising introducing the inert gas into the chamber of the bearing system, the inert gas being preferably carbon dioxide and / or nitrogen, more preferably nitrogen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Other advantages and features of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention shown as a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] - Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a bearing system according to the present invention; and

[0023] - Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a bearing system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 A bearing system 1 and a shaft 3 are shown, the bearing system 1 comprising a bearing 5 designated to be positioned around the shaft 3 and a housing 7 positioned around the bearing 5. The bearing comprises an inner ring, an outer ring and at least one row of rolling elements arranged radially between the rings. As another option, the bearing may not include the row of rolling elements. In the illustrated example, the inner ring of the bearing 5 is mounted on the shaft 3, and the outer ring is in radial contact with the housing 7.

[0025] The seat 7 is configured to form an inner sealed chamber 9 between the shaft 3 and the seat 7 and is adapted to contain grease 11 or oil in said chamber 9. Thus, the bearing 5 is completely positioned in the chamber 9.

[0026] The bearing system 1 also comprises means 13 for introducing an inert gas 15 into the chamber 9 formed by the seat 7 .

[0027] For the purpose of the present invention, the non-reactive gas 15 is also intended to define a gas having similar chemical properties as the non-reactive gas (such as CO 2 ).

[0028] Advantageously, the inert gas 15 designated for introduction into the chamber 9 comprises nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide and / or argon and / or helium and / or krypton and / or xenon and / or neon, preferably nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide, more preferably nitrogen, because nitrogen is a very common gas and is present in large quantities in the air.

[0029] In addition, the grease 11 configured to be contained in the chamber 9 is advantageously a mineral grease, preferably a mineral grease containing calcium or lithium. Compared with the chamber 9 filled with air, the present invention will have a significant effect of reducing the oxidation of such grease.

[0030] Advantageously, the device 13 comprises a gas line 17 which passes through the thickness of the seat 7 and is configured to introduce the inert gas 15 from outside the seat 7 into the chamber 9. In this way, it is not necessary to open the chamber 9 in order to introduce the inert gas 15, thereby reducing the risk of oxidation of the lipid 11.

[0031] The seat 7 comprises at least two seals 19 positioned between the shaft 3 and the seat 7, thereby delimiting in the axial direction a sealed chamber 9. In addition to forming a barrier to the grease 11, the seal 19 forms an additional barrier to dust, particles, water and air, thereby reducing oxidation mechanisms. It also allows the grease 11 to be retained in the chamber 9.

[0032] In this embodiment, the device 13 comprises an inert gas filter 21 .

[0033] As an example, the inactive gas filter 21 comprises a pressurized air inlet 23 , means 25 for filtering the inactive gas 15 in the components of the pressurized air, and a pump 27 for injecting and maintaining a constant pressure of the inactive gas 15 in the chamber 9 .

[0034] The inert gas filter 25 may filter the air to extract nitrogen as the inert gas and finally introduce the nitrogen into the chamber 9 .

[0035] The device 13 may include a pressurized air supply 29, such as an air compressor or a pressurized air container ( / pressurized air container).

[0036] Figure 2 A second embodiment of a bearing system 1 is shown which is similar to the first embodiment, except that the means 13 for introducing the inert gas 15 into the chamber 9 comprises an inert gas container 31 instead of an inert gas filter.

[0037] The inert gas container 31 is fluidly connected to the chamber 9 via a gas line 17 .

[0038] In this embodiment, the container 31 directly comprises the inert gas 15 and must be replaced or regularly refilled if a loss of inert gas 15 is noticed (eg if the pressure in the chamber 9 drops).

[0039] Advantageously, the container 31 comprises a battery 33 , a tank 35 configured to store the inert gas 15 and means 37 for injecting said inert gas 15 into the chamber 9 , the means 37 being powered by the battery 33 .

[0040] The means 37 for injecting the inert gas 15 may include a pump for maintaining a constant pressure of the inert gas in the chamber 9 .

[0041] The tank 35 of the container 31 may contain an inert gas in gaseous or liquid form and has a capacity comprised between 0.1 and 5 litres.

[0042] A similar container 31 containing grease can be used in parallel to refill the chamber 9 with grease 11 if a loss of grease is noticed.

Claims

1. A bearing system (1) comprising a bearing (5) and a seat (7), the bearing (5) being designated to be positioned around a shaft (3), the seat (7) being positioned around the bearing (5), being configured to form an internal sealed chamber (9) between the shaft (3) and the seat (7) and being adapted to contain grease (11) in the chamber (9), characterized in that The bearing system (1) comprises means (13) for introducing an inert gas (15) into the chamber (9) formed by the seat (7).

2. The bearing system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The device (13) comprises a gas line (17) which passes through the seat (7) and is configured to introduce the inert gas (15) from outside the seat (7) into the chamber (9).

3. Bearing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The seat (7) comprises at least two seals (19) positioned between the shaft (3) and the seat (7) to define the sealed chamber (9).

4. Bearing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The device (13) comprises an inert gas filter (21).

5. The bearing system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The inert gas filter (21) comprises a pressurized air inlet (23), means (25) for filtering inert gas (15) from components of the pressurized air, and a pump (27) for maintaining a constant pressure of the inert gas (15) in the chamber (9).

6. The bearing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The device (13) comprises an inert gas container (31).

7. The bearing system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The container (31) includes a battery (33), a tank (35) configured to store an inert gas (15), and a component (37) for injecting the inert gas (15) into the chamber (9), wherein the component (37) is powered by the battery (33).

8. Bearing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The inert gas (15) includes nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide and / or argon and / or helium and / or krypton and / or xenon and / or neon, preferably nitrogen and / or carbon dioxide, more preferably nitrogen.

9. Bearing system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The grease (11) configured to be contained in the chamber (9) is a mineral grease, preferably a mineral grease containing calcium or lithium.

10. Use of a bearing system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising introducing an inert gas (15) into the chamber (9) of the bearing system (1), the inert gas preferably being carbon dioxide and / or nitrogen, more preferably being nitrogen.

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